Jackson Clark
Jackson Clark supports Lewis-Burke clients by tracking and researching federal agencies and legislative updates that are related to biomedical research, health, biosecurity, and biotechnology. At the firm, he focuses on opportunities and updates at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), among others.
Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Jackson found his passion for federal health policy working as an undergraduate research assistant at the University of Minnesota. In that role, he assisted Professor Michael Minta in his research analyzing the United States’ preparedness for pandemics over time. Through this experience, he gained an understanding of the many different priorities of federal agencies and became skilled at researching and analyzing federal budgets. Additionally, Jackson gained valuable experience at the ground level of health policy interning for Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN). In that role, he assisted constituents with casework relating to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which allowed him to better understand how to interact productively with federal agencies and how policy impacts Americans.
Issue Expertise: Health and hospitals, biomedical research, infectious diseases, pandemic preparedness and response, biotechnology, and defense health.
Vital Statistics: Jackson was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama and received his bachelor’s degree with distinction from the University of Minnesota, where he double majored in Political Science and Philosophy. Outside of the office, Jackson spends his time supporting University of Minnesota and Alabama athletics, especially during football season. He also enjoys cooking, reading historical non-fiction, and biking around the city.
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Elizabeth Stulberg, Ph.D.
Dr. Elizabeth Stulberg advises clients in the areas of food, agriculture, and life sciences. Elizabeth has worked in Congress, the White House, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and holds an ScB in Biology and German Studies from Brown University and a PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from Yale University. Elizabeth uses her deep subject matter expertise and broad experience working within the federal landscape to advocate for science, leverage federal programs, and enhance clients’ scientific and technological endeavors.
Recently, Elizabeth used her expertise and experience in USDA and Congress to facilitate $10 million in infrastructure funding for a university client.
Issue Expertise: Food and agriculture policy, microbiome science, higher education, plant and soil science, genetics and biotechnology.
Additional Experience: Elizabeth started her career in science policy with an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Congressional Science Policy Fellowship supported by the American Society for Microbiology. As a Fellow, she worked in the office of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter of Rochester, New York, where she advised on issues of agriculture, public health, genetics, and food safety. She then moved into the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy with a fellowship from the American Phytopathological Society, leading initiatives on microbiome science and agriculture workforce development and earning the position of Senior Advisor for Food and Life Sciences. Elizabeth gained agency experience as an Agricultural Science Fellow in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Chief Scientist before spending five years with the Agronomy, Crop, and Soil Science Societies of America. In this role, she supported food, agriculture, and natural resources research programs.
Vital Statistics: Elizabeth lives in Northeast Washington, DC with her husband and two beautiful children. She has a passion for food, both cooking and eating, and is thrilled that her career lets her dive deeply into issues dealing with the food system, from plant biodiversity to nutritional inequities. She also loves snowboarding and science fiction.
Sierra Cato, J.D.
Sierra Cato is a Principal in the Energy Policy Practice at Lewis-Burke Associates LLC. As a trusted advisor, Sierra helps clients advance legislative priorities in Congress, protect their interests, secure federal funding, navigate challenges in the political landscape, and raise their profile in Washington. Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates LLC, Sierra served in leadership appointments at the U.S. Department of Energy, including Acting Staff Secretary to Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette where she led cross-agency coordination and preparation of the Secretary’s briefing materials for both domestic and international engagements. Sierra also served as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Executive Secretariat where she oversaw the Department’s response to high level communications and policy actions from the White House related to energy policy and national security and spearheaded legislative reform efforts across DOE. Lastly, in her capacity as Senior Advisor on Minority Education, Sierra was the DOE liaison for White House initiatives advancing STEM equity and educational excellence for all minority-serving institutions and HBCUs.
Sierra received a Secretary’s Appreciation Award from Secretary of Energy Rick Perry for exceeding expectations in the strategy and creation of the Department of Energy Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office in September 2019.
Issue Expertise: Energy Sciences, Physical Sciences, Applied Energy, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation, Nuclear Energy, DOE National Laboratories, Transportation, Appropriations, Artificial Intelligence, Technology Transitions, Grid Resilience and Modernization, Cybersecurity, Workforce Development and STEM
Additional Experience: During her career, Sierra gained sound knowledge of the inner workings of Congress while serving in various positions in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, including serving as a law clerk for Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, as well as a Legislative Staff Assistant and Intern for former Senator David Vitter and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, respectively.
During her time in the Senate, Sierra was Co-Chair of the Community Service Committee for the Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus. In addition to a strong appreciation for service, Sierra values the importance of building strong relationships and working in a bipartisan manner.
Vital Statistics: Sierra earned her Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology at North Carolina State University. She received her Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Sierra was born and raised in Whiteville, North Carolina. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
Sharon Eshelman
Sharon Eshelman is a strategic planning and stakeholder management professional with two decades of hands-on government service and consulting experience, most of which has been focused on national security policy. At Lewis-Burke, Sharon serves as a strategic advisor to clients helping to advance their defense, cybersecurity, and homeland security engagement and research priorities. Sharon joins Lewis-Burke after spending two years as Senior Advisor in the Office of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where she guided the Department’s response to a myriad of Congressional oversight investigations and served as the primary liaison with Capitol Hill on Intelligence matters. Ms. Eshelman previously served as the National Security Subcommittee Staff Director for the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee, overseeing more than 35 investigations into the Departments of Justice (DOJ), Homeland Security, State, Veterans’ Affairs, Defense, and the Intelligence Community.
Issue Expertise: Defense and national security, homeland security, immigration, criminal justice, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, congressional oversight.
Additional Experience: From 2009 to 2017, Ms. Eshelman worked as a professional project manager, first at Deloitte Consulting and then Sentinel HS Group, where she supported strategy and policy clients within the Homeland, Justice and Treasury Departments. Prior to becoming a consultant in 2009, Ms. Eshelman served five years with the federal government, assuming various policy and legislative roles in both DHS and the White House. Throughout her career, she has contributed to a variety of federal initiatives such as: the White House Strategy (and Implementation Plan) for Pandemic Influenza; national disaster and COOP planning; various criminal justice and civil enforcement plans; federal fraud, waste and abuse investigations; victim support initiatives; federal program, planning, budgeting and execution (PPBE) efforts; state and local law enforcement outreach campaigns; government re-organizations and has written pieces included in the President’s Daily Briefing Book.
Vital Statistics: Ms. Eshelman received a B.S. in Business Administration from American University in Washington, DC, and a M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI, and has completed additional coursework in political science and education.
Beyond her professional and academic accomplishments, Ms. Eshelman has volunteered with the Anne Arundel County Public School System, Junior Achievement, National Youth Leadership Forum and College Summit organizations, and continues to look for ways to support youth development initiatives in the National Capital Region.
Sharon is originally from the Greater Philadelphia area and is an avid Eagles, NASCAR and cheesesteak fan. She enjoys playing golf and frisbee, jogging, swimming, and spending time outside with her husband and three energetic children.
Griffin Reinecke
Griffin is a passionate advocate for science and technology policy. An expert in space, energy, and transportation issues, he leverages his experience working on Capitol Hill and relationships with congressional staff to provide Lewis-Burke clients with insight on potential congressional action and upcoming federal funding opportunities.
Issue areas: Civil space research and policy, fundamental and applied energy research and development, environmental research, transportation and infrastructure, and aeronautics.
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Griffin worked on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, where he served on the full committee and more recently on Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. During his time on the Committee, he developed an in-depth knowledge of space and science policy issues while building relationships with key stakeholders at relevant agencies, in academia, and industry. Griffin also worked as an intern in the office of Ron Wyden.
Vital Statistics: Griffin was born and raised in Bend, Oregon and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and sustainability from the University of Michigan. When not supporting Michigan athletics, Griffin spends his free time outdoors skiing, hiking, or playing golf.
Mia Luckett
Mia Luckett delivers timely insight, detailed research, and federal agency and congressional updates to Lewis-Burke clients. Mia specializes in monitoring and analyzing agency and legislative activity related to the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Issue Expertise: Technology, Engineering Communities, Social Science, and Public- Private Partnerships.
Additional Information: Before joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Mia was a legal administrative assistant to a criminal defense and real estate attorney. Mia also interned with the district office of Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), where she gained an understanding of education policy and aided incarcerated constituents in utilizing government agencies. Mia was previously an Eben Tisdale Public Policy Fellow with the Fund for American Studies. As a fellow, she interned with lobbying firm Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas and worked with the Technology CEO council. During this time, Mia gained expertise in high-tech public policy, the latest innovations in science and technology, and conducted research on the effectiveness of bipartisanship.
Vital Statistics: Originally from the southern suburbs of Chicago, Mia graduated magna cum laude from Hampton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. While attending Hampton, Mia also joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and often does community service with other organization members. Mia is a self- proclaimed foodie and loves trying out a new recipe, or the latest and trendiest restaurants. In her free time Mia also enjoys traveling, reading, and working out.
Thomas Russell, Ph.D.
Dr. Thomas Russell is Senior Policy Advisor to Lewis-Burke. As a Senior Policy Advisor, Dr. Russell will serve as an independent, non-lobbying consultant to Lewis-Burke clients with interests in secure and non-secure National Security research and policy. Dr. Russell had a diverse 30-year government science and technology career, focused on leading complex multidisciplinary research organizations and executing broad multidiscipline research programs to meet future warfighter needs. He is a proven leader in directing basic, applied research and advanced technology development across the Department of Defense, including management of Department of Defense research collaborations with academia, industry and the international community. Dr. Russell’s Tri-Service career experience (16 years with the Navy, 6 years with the Air Force, and 8 years with the Army) makes him uniquely qualified. Dr. Russell provides strategic insights and analyses of relevant programs, policies, and regulations across the national security enterprise and offers profound experiences from both DOD science and technology as well as the Service (i.e. Navy, Army, Air Force) acquisition communities.
Issue Expertise: Identifying, developing, and demonstrating technology options that inform and enable effective and affordable capabilities for the Warfighter.
Additional Experience: Dr. Russell served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology; Director, Army Research Lab, Director; Air Force Office of Scientific Research; Executive Director, Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division; and Director, Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation Directorate, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division.
Vital Statistics: Dr. Russell received a Ph.D.in chemistry, University of Delaware and a B.S. in chemistry, Muhlenberg College. Dr. Russell began his federal career as a research scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. and at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, White Oak Laboratory, White Oak, MD. He is the recipient of a Navy Superior Civilian Service Award; the Army Distinguished Service Award; and the SES Presidential Rank Award, Meritorious Executive Service. Dr. Russell was selected to the Senior Executive Service in 2006 and retired from federal service as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology and Army Chief Scientist in March 2020. In his spare time, Dr. Russell is an avid Cincinnati Bengals and Reds fan.
Informing Faculty to Enable Grant Success
NSF developed a new funding mechanism for accelerating development of technology in agency priority areas. Lewis-Burke engaged with the agency repeatedly to help shape the new mechanism and obtain early intelligence. Once a pilot competition was announced, a university client wanted to prepare a broad group of faculty to compete for awards. Lewis-Burke prepared a webinar for interested faculty, which gave them insights into the larger context for the program, key features of the mechanism and how it differed from typical NSF programs, and best practices for success. Ultimately, a faculty group from the university won a $1 million award in the competition and now has the opportunity to obtain additional, much larger awards as part of the program.
Getting a Scientific Community’s Decadal Vision off the Ground
Getting a Scientific Community’s Decadal Vision off the Ground – A scientific society client worked with the community to develop a decadal vision for its field. This was the first time this scientific community undertook such an endeavor and Lewis-Burke worked with the client to guide the society’s volunteer leadership through the nuances of nurturing a realistic vision with meaningful messaging for policy makers. After the vision was finalized, Lewis-Burke crafted and implemented a successful rollout strategy to the society’s membership, federal agency contacts, the White House, Capitol Hill and the rest of the scientific community. As a direct result of these efforts, the society has increased its influence with policy makers and cultivated new congressional champions, the vision’s recommendations are informing federal agency priorities and the overall visibility and recognition of the importance of the field has been heightened. Lewis-Burke continues to work with the society to make this decadal vision a reality.